Therapeutic Recreation

Therapeutic recreation services are based on each individual patient's interests and lifestyles as they relate to their physical, cognitive, emotional and social functional abilities.

The Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) uses each patient's recreation and leisure interests as part of an individually designed plan to improve their overall function and or wellbeing. By using the patient's recreation and leisure interests, we are able to make each treatment meaningful and fun for the individual while meeting a therapeutic goal.

Some of the positive outcomes from therapeutic recreation services include but are not limited to:

• Increased strength
• Improved memory skills
• Increased endurance
• Improved attention
• Increased coordination
• Improved problem solving
• Increased safety judgment
• Improved social skills
• Decreased depression
• Increased self confidence
• Increased coping strategies
• Decreased social isolation
• Increase in perceived quality of life

Therapeutic recreation can help to improve a patient's ability to cope with hospitalization and the stress of medical procedures. Therapeutic recreation also helps families to be more involved when they visit by allowing them to interact with their loved one in a fun and non-threatening activity.

In therapeutic recreation we also provide community re-entry for patients who will be discharged directly back to their homes and communities. The community outing allows the patient and care giver the opportunity to practice the skills they have learned in their therapy sessions out in the community in hopes to help create a seamless transition from the hospital setting back into the patient's own community.